Technical Abstract:
The USDA-ARS Pasture Systems and Watershed Management Research Laboratory has formed new partnerships with the American Farmland Trust (AFT) and The Conservation Fund (CF) to conduct research on Cove Mountain Farm in south- central Pennsylvania and Nordic Farm near Burlington, Vermont. Research focuses on the effects of grazing animal systems on surface and ground water quality along with changes in biodiversity. Plant species diversity has been documented on both farms and extensive hydrologic and water quality instrumentation has been installed at Cove Mountain. Farming systems models will be used to integrate research results. Results will be transferred to AFT, CF, the Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture, and the extension service for use by farmers, action agencies, and the general public.